GLOBAL – Teams from Egypt and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) entered parts of Gaza on Sunday and Monday to begin a search for the bodies of 13 deceased Israeli hostages, following an agreement with Israeli authorities. The operation, which involves heavy machinery like excavators and trucks, marks a critical new phase in the implementation of a US-brokered ceasefire, as international pressure mounts on Hamas to fulfil its obligations under the deal.

The search is concentrated in areas beyond the “yellow line,” a demarcation boundary marking the extent of the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) withdrawal under the first stage of the peace agreement that took effect on Monday, 10 October 2025 EAT. In an unprecedented move, Israeli officials confirmed on Sunday, 26 October 2025, that Hamas members would also be permitted to assist the ICRC and Egyptian teams in the search inside IDF-controlled territory.

The US-brokered agreement, signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Thursday, 9 October 2025, required Hamas to release all 20 living hostages and the remains of 28 deceased captives. While all living hostages were freed by Monday, 13 October, the return of the deceased has stalled. To date, Hamas has transferred the bodies of 15 hostages to the ICRC, which then hands them over to the IDF. In exchange, Israel has returned the bodies of 195 Palestinians, consistent with the deal's stipulation of a 15-to-1 ratio.

Hamas negotiators maintain that locating the remaining bodies is a significant challenge due to the vast scale of destruction across Gaza, with many remains believed to be buried deep under the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardment. However, Israeli government spokespersons have repeatedly stated their belief that Hamas knows the location of more bodies and is deliberately delaying their return in violation of the agreement.

The slow progress prompted a sharp warning from US President Donald Trump, the deal's primary architect. In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform over the weekend, Trump issued what was widely seen as a 48-hour ultimatum to Hamas. “Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages... quickly, or the other countries involved in this great peace will take action,” he wrote on Saturday, 25 October 2025. He added that he was “watching this very closely.”

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

While the conflict's epicentre is thousands of kilometres away, its reverberations are keenly felt in Kenya and the broader East Africa region. The Government of Kenya has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution. On Thursday, 9 October 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a “vital step in easing human suffering” and urging all parties to build towards a lasting peace based on the two-state solution. This position was recently enshrined in law through a 2025 sessional paper, solidifying Kenya's diplomatic stance. In a September 2025 address to the UN General Assembly, President William Ruto also called for a permanent ceasefire and strict adherence to international humanitarian law.

The stability of the Middle East is directly linked to the economic health of East Africa. Economists have warned that a collapse of the ceasefire and a return to full-scale conflict could trigger a surge in global oil prices, placing severe strain on Kenya's economy, which is still recovering from other external shocks. Such a scenario would likely lead to higher fuel and production costs, further devaluing local currencies against the dollar and increasing pressure on households and businesses.

Furthermore, regional security analysts have expressed concern that a prolonged and volatile conflict could embolden extremist groups in the Horn of Africa. The political legitimacy and visibility gained by militant groups in the Middle East can serve as a powerful recruitment and motivational tool for organisations like al-Shabaab, which continues to pose a significant threat to Kenya and its neighbours. The success or failure of the current fragile peace, therefore, carries not only immense humanitarian weight for the people of Gaza and Israel but also significant economic and security consequences for millions in East Africa.

As the Egyptian machinery sifts through the debris in Gaza, the operation is being watched globally as a crucial test of the ceasefire's viability. Its outcome will determine whether the region takes a step toward a fragile peace or plunges back into a conflict whose shockwaves will be felt far beyond its borders.